We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.
Matthew 2:2
Which star are you following? And where is it leading you?
We have entered the second week of the season of Advent. Advent is the season of the year leading up to Christmas. In today’s world Advent is a time to remind us what we are waiting for as we go through our busy lives. A time to look at ourselves and see how we are spending our lives and to remember the things that really matter to us. A time to again find the star we want to follow.
Waiting is the grace that Advent comes to bring. It stands before us and points to the star. We all want something more, and in a fast-paced world Advent (and this year, also a global pandemic!) slows us down and makes us think. It makes us look beyond today to the great tomorrow of life. And while we wait we can learn and grow and become stronger than ever in our ideals and convictions.
While we wait we can become attentive and creative, and no matter who wants to put us down, or stop us from becoming who we are meant to be, we can always be beacons of hope for others. Beacons that never go away until one day we see clearly that star that shines high in the sky for us.
And on this small chair
Sits an ever smaller person
A child
A child is so much more
Than a lady or a gent
It comes before
A child is so much more
A miracle
Dear Families,
As we come to the end of the 2024 school year, we find ourselves in a time of great celebration and reflection. The season of Advent reminds us to pause and embrace the beauty of waiting, a valuable lesson in our often-busy lives.
As a school, we are deeply impressed by the commitment our students and their families demonstrate towards learning and growth throughout the year. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to every member of our school community – students, staff, and families – for the trust and support you have shown over the past 12 months.
The end of the year always stirs a sense of nostalgia, inviting us to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced and, most importantly, the blessings we’ve received. Each day, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be part of the St Joseph’s community, with countless moments that bring smiles, laughter, and soemtimes tears of pride and joy.
Last week, it was a privilege to read over the Semester 2 Student Reports that were shared with families. These reports are a testament to the phenomenal growth our students have shown – academically, socially, and emotionally. The report provides only a mere summary of your child’s learning and growth. We know that the learning that happens for your child each year cannot be summarised in final grades and a brief comment, and we hope you enjoy the many varied opportunities that celebrate your child’s learning throughout the year via Seesaw, and assemblies.
Every student and family bring unique gifts and talents that enrich the diversity of our community. It’s this diversity that makes St Joseph’s so special. While the end of the year can feel like a whirlwind, I encourage you to take time this Advent season to slow down, enjoy the waiting, and cherish the moments with those closest to you.
This year, we’ve already shared many special moments together, including the school’s 70th birthday celebrations, Whole School Musical 'Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies', our Carols Night, End of Year Mass, and Graduation.
We are incredibly proud of our Year 6 students as they graduate from St Joseph’s and begin the next chapter of their lives. To our graduates – thank you for the memories and contributions you have made to our school. We wish you every success and happiness in the future.
We also acknowledge Ms Louise Latz, whose time at St Joseph’s has been brief but impactful. Her contributions and the strong relationships she has formed with students and staff will be greatly missed.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are filled with excitement as we prepare to enact the first stage of our Masterplan. This includes the construction of three new classrooms and breakout spaces designed to cater to the contemporary learning needs of our students. These spaces will provide dynamic and flexible environments that will support collaboration, creativity, and a love of learning. This development is a significant step forward for our school, and we cannot wait to see our students and staff thrive in these innovative spaces.
As we prepare for the holidays, may this time bring rest, joy, and connection with loved ones. We give thanks for the freedom to celebrate together and pray for the health and safety of all in our community. May the spirit of Jesus fill your homes with love and peace this Christmas season.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday and a blessed start to 2025.
Nanda de Winter Principal
The YEL team went to lock 5 in Paringa and learnt about paddleboats with Captain Jackson. Jackson spoke about the boat he built with a friend. We learnt about how a paddle boat works and what certain horns and light signals meant.
The lock master spoke about how the lock works and why they were made. Originally, we were going to have more locks, but the cost was very expensive. The locks were made to help the river maintain a healthy flow. The locks now have fishways which are series of pools that fish use to move safely upstream to breed.
In the afternoon, Riverland Landscape board ran a carp frenzy. Caught carp were weighed and then put in a tub filled with clove oil to kill them peacefully. The school who caught the most carp, the student who caught the most carp and the student to have the heaviest carp all won prizes. Lainie caught one fish, Jordan caught 3 fish, Imogen caught one fish and Grace and Jackson didn't catch any.
The day ended with a well earnt slushy from McDonalds. We had a great 2024 in the YEL team.
Lainie, Jordan, Imogen, Jackson and Grace
On Monday the 2nd of December, SJSB held their annual Carols Night. Blessed with good weather, the rain held out for us to enjoy the festive spirit outside on a beautiful night. What a fabulous way to welcome the festive season, bringing the school community together and singing along to well known carols. Thankyou to everyone who helped out on the night and thankyou to everyone who came along and celebrated this joyful time of year with us all. Have a very Merry Christmas.
On Tuesday the 10th of December, SJSB had some fun in the sun at the Berri Pool for their annual Splash Day. The weather was a perfet 29 degrees and the water cool and refreshing! Thankyou to those who contributed with the sausage sizzle and everyone who came along and joined in the fun!
Important Dates
First Day of School 2025
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